Help us save Raureka School Pool (Harding Baths)!

Do you remember the pure joy of swimming as a child? Those endless summer days spent in the school pool with your friends? Raureka School is lucky enough to have a school pool BUT we need your help. Please assist us to upgrade our school pool by donating via this page.

Our school pool was opened in March 1930. The Harding Baths, as they are known, have had several generations of Hastings locals learn to swim, play & become confident in the water. Our children today adore this pool & it remains a huge part of both the community, the school culture & the outdoor education curriculum.

Recently, water standards have changed & the equipment that is currently in place, no longer meets stringent new rules. This summer just gone, the pool was open although a managed use of the facility was needed to meet the water standards. The school & the Board of Trustees are committed to saving this amazing resource but we need your help!

You may be part of the Raureka community, a Hawkes Bay local, an ex-pupil, staff or committee member… you may just know someone who can help us. We are fundraising for the replacement of the filters & pumps which are old & tired. We also wish to put in automated chlorine dosers & eventually separate the big & little pool systems so they are independent of each other. There are solar panels we want to install to make the swimming season longer & then there's all the associated work including piping, removal of old equipment etc.

It is a BIG project but we have begun! We have a plan in place to carry this work out over a 2yr period & therefore payments will be in increments. The Board of Trustees have set aside a sum however fundraising will have to happen to ensure the completion of this work.

The school community have fundraisers organised throughout the year including sausage sizzles both at school & in the community. There has been a Facebook page set up – https://www.facebook.com/Raureka-School-help-save-our-pool-437435746602111/ so 'like' us to keep in contact, see progress photos & inform you of coming events including a sponsored netball tournament, a mini gala & much much more. No-one wants our pool to close! We ALL want it to meet current standards, be safe for all & future-proofed for many generations yet!

There are many ways you can help other than financially. If you can help with materials, labour, time (working bee), running a sausage sizzle or any other fundraising idea - please feel free to email us on poolproject@raureka.school.nz

Thank you in advance for your support & generosity! It really is so appreciated.